Lehi, Nephi and the shekinah -- Part 3 (From tabernacle to temple)

Here are links to part 1 and part 2 of this series, where I have introduced the Hebrew concept of Shekinah, the presence/"dwelling place" of God's glory, that is typically found in the tabernacle and temple of Israel of old. I have also linked Lehi's tent to the tabernacle of Israel in the wilderness.

In this post, I will discuss a pattern that I admittedly do not fully understand. Whereas Lehi gets his revelations and enjoys the Shekinah in his tent, Nephi goes to the mountain. Let's first examine Lehi. This blog post states

The tabernacle in the wilderness serves as an allegory that Nephi draws upon. With this ancient connection established between Lehi and Moses, the verse, “And my Father dwelt in a Tent” takes on greater significance. In the world of Israel, this verse communicates that Lehi was a Tsadik (a holy or righteous one) who walked in the same pathway of the Holy Order, such as Moses, Abraham, Noah, Enoch, and Adam.  As he dwelt in a tent in the wilderness, he communed with God.  He received revelations, commandments, and decrees for his people...

Like ancient Israel camping in tents in the wilderness, a tsaddik or holy man would often be found living outside the bounds of the cities in the caves and tents of the wilderness.  In doing so, these men lead a consecrated or set apart existence similar to Moses dwelling in the Tabernacle enwrapped in the Glory of the Lord (Shekinah).

It is easy to see how the Book of Mormon portrays Lehi as a Tsadik who separated from the wickedness in Jerusalem dwelling in a tent. Once he left, he never set his foot in the city again but sent his sons to obtain the plates and persuade Ishmael and his family to come along. It is also clear that he "communed with God" in the tent. We saw in the previous post (part 2) that it was a place of sacrifice and offerings. Almost every time the tent is mentioned, the Shekinah is also manifest.

14 And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them.

15 And my father dwelt in a tent. (1 Nephi 2)

Perhaps the most well-known example of Lehi's communion with God is Lehi's dream. This verse immediately follows his dream in 1 Nephi 8.

And all these things did my father see, and hear, and speak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel, and also a great many more things, which cannot be written upon these plates. (1 Nephi 9:1)

Interestingly, Nephi says that Lehi said many more things that could not be written. But then he changes his mind

And now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon these plates of my proceedings, and my reign and ministry; wherefore, to proceed with mine account, I must speak somewhat of the things of my father, and also of my brethren. (1 Nephi 10:1)

Nephi goes on to recount some more of what his father said. I think this is done to give more context to his account of his own vision that includes both elements from his father's dream but also his teachings in chapter 10 about the Jews, Gentiles and the Savior's mission. After Nephi has ended this brief recount of his father's prophecies, he repeats yet again

And all these things, of which I have spoken, were done as my father dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel. (1 Nephi 10:16)

After his father had spoken about these things, Nephi wants to see what his father has seen. Nephi sees a grand vision as recorded in 1 Nephi 11-14. But it does not happen in a tent. Nephi is carried away in the spirit up on a high mountain. 

And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been carried away in the Spirit, and seen all these things, I returned to the tent of my father. (1 Nephi 15:1)

This description is similar to the one in 1 Nephi 3:1 described in my previous post, where Nephi had spoken with the Lord and then returned to his father's tent. We see a steady focus on Lehi's tent whenever divine manifestations have occured. Divine manifestations happen to Lehi in the tent, whereas for Nephi it happens outside the tent, followed by a return to his father's tent. This is an interesting pattern that I don't know if I quite understand. Contrast that with the description in 1 Nephi 16

31 And it came to pass that I did slay wild beasts, insomuch that I did obtain food for our families.

32 And it came to pass that I did return to our tents, bearing the beasts which I had slain; and now when they beheld that I had obtained food, how great was their joy!

When he had been hunting (rather than communing with God), Nephi returned to "our tents", not his father's tent.

It should be abundantly clear by now that Lehi's tent can be linked to the tabernacle and was thought to have a special function as dwelling place not only for Lehi but for God. But even though we know Nephi to be a prophet and great spiritual leader, it also seems clear that Lehi was the high priest of the tabernacle, while Nephi undoubtedly later became the king and high priest of the temple. After his father died, Nephi built a temple, as we can read in 2 Nephi 5. This was the permanent dwelling place for God in the promised land and replaced the tabernacle. Just as Lehi's tent/tabernacle mimics the tabernacle of Israel in the wilderness, Nephi's temple mimics the temple of Solomon in the promised land.

And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine. (2 Nephi 5:16)